I have always been a maker at heart. Even when I was a little girl, making things always brought me joy. As an adult, I find an extreme amount of happiness from not only making things but creating good things for my body, home and family. One question I get a lot is, "how can I start incorporating better products for my body into my skin care routine?" The answer to me is simple, make them! Yes, it will take some time from your schedule but becoming a mixtress, or mixer-man, can be very fun. It's also great to embarking on a handmade-homemade journey if you have children. Not only can they help with the creation process but they will learn the importance of creating for a bigger cause that impacts our overall health.

So, let's get to it! I stopped using store brand deodorants a few years ago. Why? because the ingredients are yucky and can be dangerous to our health and bodies.(To learn more about this topic, you can check out this article.) That change has worked wonders for me! I don't sweat as much; please bear in mind that sweating is our bodies way of detoxing + cooling down. You don't want that to vanish. I don't stink, and my armpits are not dark anymore.

With that being said, I have shared some of my fave all-natural body odor brands on my Instagram. Normally, my go-to deodorant is my Thai Crystal Stone, which works wonders for me, even through Bikram Yoga! I also love the Primal Pit-Paste brand a lot. However, I know some folks rather just make their own for whatever reason. Which I am a huge advocate for, by the way.

Below you can find a pretty awesome recipe for what I am calling "stink salve." It's cheap to make and will last you quite awhile. The ingredients are 100% vegan, natural and from the earth.

First, let me break down the ingredients for you.

Jojoba + Coconut OilUnrefined (raw) coconut oil has wonderful antibacterial properties. Many of sus know this but just a reminder, coconut oil liquefies at about 76 degrees. Anything below that temperature will cause the oil to solidify. I added jojoba oil to this recipe to allow for a more spreadable product + jojoba oil is a great skin conditioner. It is also awesome for preventing razor burn, which is great for the pits! Jojoba oil will also leave the sensitive skin under our arms smooth, soft and moisturized.

Shea Butter Unrefined shea butter is high in vitamins A and E and is incredibly soothing for our skin. It is another great moisturizer and will give our final product some density.

Arrowroot PowderArrowroot not only helps to serve as a thickener, but it can also assist in drawing out toxins. A lot of natural deodorants call for arrowroot powder!

Candelilla WaxCandelilla Wax, aka vegan beeswax, is a plant based wax that will help bind all of our ingredients together.

Vitamin EVitamin E is an amazing antioxidant for our skin.

Tea Tree OilThis essential oil is best known for it's antifungal properties, and it smells pretty good too!

Lavender Essential OilKnown for it's soothing abilities, Lavender is also a disinfectant and can enhance blood circulation.

Lemon Essential OilAside from smelling like a dream, Lemon essential oil is detoxifying. It also is equipped with antiseptic, disinfectant and anti-fungal properties.

vanity planet's spin brush tool is used for daily cleaning of my face but also has an exfoliator attachment that I like to use before shaving! (i love this thing! use code "spinAE" for 70% off at checkout)

Two 2oz jars (one for you and one for a friend, maybe?)

Double-boiler (for melting. don’t have one? do what I do and use a pot filled with hot water and a heat resistant bowl)

2 tablespoons Coconut oil

1.5 tablespoons Shea butter

½ tablespoon Carrier Oil (jojoba)

1 tablespoon candelilla wax

1 tablespoon Arrowroot powder

5 drops of Vitamin E

20 drops of the essential oils (split the 3 up evenly at the end of the melting process)

Melt until liquified, add your essential oils and pour into your jars. I like to set mine in the fridge for a few hours until the mixture is solidified. Use as needed. :)

I hope this post was helpful to you! Please let me know in the comments if you plan on trying it. Feel free to tweak this recipe as you see fit! The possibilities are endless.